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It was a call for help from a man who couldn't afford to provide for his family that was cruelly batted down by a prominent radio host.

But in the 24-hours that followed, Ali Al Mazrouei witnessed a justice of sorts when the radio jockey was suspended and his plight was heard in person by the leaders of the country.

The 56-year-old, a father of nine, spoke of his struggle to get by on a relatively low salary and a large family.

Speaking to The National on Tuesday after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai personally intervened in his case, he said many Emiratis are not as wealthy as stereotypes might suggest, and they themselves struggle with the rising cost of living.

The Emirati, from Ras Al Khaimah, worked as a driver for the environment ministry until he had to quit due to diabetes and high blood pressure.

Since then, he’s received Dh13,000 per month in benefit payments from the government.

“It is not enough, it barely covers food and drink, electricity bills and household expenses,” he said.

“I have to cover my children’s tuition fees, some are studying in university, college and there are some that are still in school.”

His eldest daughter Shamma is 35, and his youngest, Maryam, is only ten.

“There is also Suleiman, he's still in school, and Noura and Ayesha and Layla," he said.

“With all of these expenses, the Dh13,000 evaporates in seconds.”

When he phoned Ajman Radio's morning talk show Al Rabia Wal Nas on Thursday, he tried to highlight what rising living costs meant for families like his.

“The expensive prices are a big problem; everything is too expensive, including fuel, and the income is low," he said.

“We want to provide for our children but we can’t buy anything; when one cannot make his children happy what is the point of living?”

When he spoke of inflation and the cost of basic goods, the show’s co-host Yaqoub Al Awadhi interrupted him to say there "there are retired people whose salaries are Dh10,000 and even used to be Dh7,000" before the government raised payments.

The anchor went on to suggest that someone who could not live on that amount must have poor skills in managing finances and does not appreciate what he has.

Mr Al Mazrouei responded to say he does not spend money on anything other than his basic needs.

He also said he has never travelled outside of the UAE in his life.

“We want to do good, when we see someone like us, we pray for him and we try to help when we find someone poor like us," he said.

"I don’t accept that you defame my country and say the people are all suffering.

“The salary you receive is from where? Where do you feed your children from? This all doesn’t deserve gratitude?”.

Mr Al Mazrouei responded that “I am an original national of this country, I am a Mazrouei,” as the host started to mumble, “where did you appear in front of me now from?” an expression in Arabic indicating an unpleasant encounter with someone.

On Tuesday, Mr Al Mazrouei was received by the Crown Prince and the Ruler of Ajman, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, while Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, ordered that his situation be looked at immediately and his family helped.

Speaking to The National, the father-of-nine said: “This was the first time that I decided to raise this issue, because life was starting to close its doors in our faces. Instead of just worrying in vain every day I decided to take a proactive step."

He said he does not want the host to lose his job.

“He jumped from topic to topic [when attacking me], it was so strange, but I say, may Allah guide him."